ADHD and behavioral disorders: Assessment, management, and an update from DSM-5

Area of Science:

• Pediatric behavioral health
• Neurodevelopmental disorders

Background:

• Behavioral disorders in children, particularly ADHD, pose significant clinical challenges for accurate assessment, diagnosis, and treatment.
• Updated diagnostic criteria in 2013 refined ADHD diagnosis and introduced disruptive mood dysregulation disorder.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the diagnostic criteria and clinical course of pediatric ADHD.
• To outline assessment strategies and treatment modalities for ADHD and comorbid conditions.

Main Methods:

• Review of updated diagnostic criteria for ADHD and disruptive mood dysregulation disorder.
• Discussion of assessment methods including clinical interviews and objective measures.
• Overview of treatment approaches combining pharmacologic, academic, and behavioral interventions.

Main Results:

• Revised ADHD criteria include age of symptom onset, symptom presence in multiple settings, and symptom count for older adolescents.
• ADHD is a chronic condition with symptom persistence into adolescence and adulthood.
• Comorbid conditions like depression and substance abuse are common and require initial treatment.

Conclusions:

• Effective ADHD management involves a comprehensive approach addressing diagnostic complexities and comorbid disorders.
• Multimodal treatment strategies for ADHD can achieve high response rates, up to 80%.